Alabama men’s basketball guard Nimari Burnett, who entered the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday, told The Next Round on Wednesday it was a “very tough decision” to leave the team after two seasons.

“I enjoyed my time with this group this season,” Burnett said during his weekly appearance on the show. “Doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a special group, a special team and a special program.”

Asked if the perception was fair about players entering the transfer portal being disgruntled with their coach and playing time, Burnett responded, “It’s definitely a fair perception. As much as it’s about being disgruntled, it’s also about kind of doing what’s best for yourself. Although that may sound a certain way, it’s not. Because you came into the situation to better yourself as a player and a person.

“Although I have done that, I do think I can get it better, even better. Just being in a better situation. At the same time, when it comes to the players on the coaching staff, it wasn’t like I was super disgruntled and hated everything. No. This is one place where it was a actually very tough decision. There was a lot of thought going into it the last few days. Like, it’s tough. I don’t want to leave this place and what I’ve built and what this team has built over this past year.”

Burnett was also asked about his relationship with Alabama coach Nate Oats, who recruited Burnett out of high school before he chose Texas Tech. Burnett left the Red Raiders before the end of his first season and transferred to Alabama, where he missed the 2021-22 season because of a torn ACL before beginning this season as a starter.

Burnett injured his wrist in early December and did not return until late January, when he came off the bench for the remainder of the season. His minutes were limited in March, including not playing at all in the SEC tournament championship game.

“I mean, it was great throughout the season,” Burnett told The Next Round about his relationship with Oats. “It was times where it wasn’t super good, but that’s what happens throughout a season, especially through injuries and things like that. No hard feelings at all.

“I texted Coach Oats after I hit the portal. I definitely appreciate him for recruiting me in the first place, recruited me twice actually. … It’s no hard feelings at all and I have the utmost respect for him. He always kept honest and told me the truth. He made me a better person and a better player, and I’m forever grateful for that.”

Asked if he would be open to returning to Alabama, Burnett said, “The door is open. If conversations were to be had, and I was accepted with open arms.”

The third-year guard said he did not know for sure during the NCAA tournament last week if he would transfer but, “I [would] talk to Coach after the season and see where it goes from there.”

Burnett would either need to graduate-transfer or receive an NCAA waiver to play immediately at a new school because he already transferred once. Burnett said he anticipates being a grad transfer.

“Definitely want to be able to play right away and contribute right away,” he said. “Part of that is becoming a grad transfer. I’ve collected enough credit — we’ll see how those credits transfer to the next place I go to. Kind of getting that done over the summer and going from there.”

Burnett did not reveal specific contact with any schools but when asked said he would be open to joining former Alabama assistants Bryan Hodgson and Charlie Henry at their new schools, Arkansas State and Georgia Southern.

“I’m definitely open to all options,” he said. “Taking a [second] to just gather everything, gather all the information I need to make a great decision for myself. Just looking forward to that and looking forward to that process, and also being smart with it, doing some research and studying who are the options that I have.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.